The Unite union is urgently asking ministers to extend the West Coast contract to safeguard jobs at Hitachi's train factory in Newton Aycliffe.
At the moment Hitachi's factory in County Durham is working on two large-scale contracts for the East Midlands and Avanti West Coast, but as things stand the Newton Aycliffe factory is facing a gap in production if nothing is negotiated in the short term after both these contracts expire in October.
Back in March 2023, a decision could have been made to extend the Avanti West Coast contract which does have an option to buy more trains, which would fill the production gap at the factory.
If nothing is negotiated, jobs could be lost and skilled workers will move on which could lead to staffing problems at the Hitachi factory when the next confirmed contract does eventually start.
The government needs to pull its finger out and tender the extension of the West Coast contract to Hitachi immediately. Ministers talk a good game about levelling up. The fact is, however, that at both Hitachi in Newton Aycliffe and Alstom in Debry, workers are in disbelief that ministerial incompetence is delaying announcements that would safeguard highly skilled jobs. The right decisions need to be made now for these workers – Unite will be holding the government to account until they are.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commented on the levelling up of the UK and stated that it had not been a failure, when on a visit to Newton Aycliffe earlier this month, though despite being within earshot of the Hitachi factory he did not make a visit to the site, raising questions and concerns of those at the factory.
The government claims to be committed to levelling up in the North but the lack of decision-making regarding the West Coast contract extension is the exact opposite of that. Rishi Sunak is aware of the issues facing Hitachi in Newton Aycliffe. Tory MP for the constituency, Paul Howells, promised to raise them with him a few weeks ago after to speaking to Unite's reps at the factory. Sunak's silence on the matter during his visit was shocking. The prime minister needs to put his money where his mouth is on levelling up and get this contract extension announced.”
Unite regional officer Pat McCourt
Cross Country are desperate for more units since disposing of their HST’s (thus now giving passengers the worst experience of any TOC – sardines is an understatement) perhaps they could place an order ?
Usual union blight, firstly their colleagues will decimate the railways with their pointless on-going strikes (I’d love to be on drivers pay) and when the TOC’s income and passenger are reduced they realise that there’s no need for shiny new trains, so they don’t order any. Then up pop our friends from the Union it’s not fair etc the government must do more. Usual mantra.